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AB de Villiers is confident South Africa can upset Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final, believing South Africa’s in-form players can rise to the challenge.
News18
Former South Africa star AB de Villiers is ‘quietly confident’ that the Proteas can ‘upset’ Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final next week. de Villiers said Australia were ‘clear’ favorites for the summit clash, which begins on June 11 at Lord’s, but backed his former team to cross the line.
South Africa last won a men’s ICC title in 1998. Australia, on the other hand, are the defending champions with the most number of ICC trophies in the last five years. Temba Bavuma and Co. have made it this far with eight wins from 12 Tests, while Pat Cummins’ Aussies won 13 of the 19 games they played.
“This is a massive moment for South African cricket—a final at Lord’s,” de Villiers said on Star Sports. “The entire nation will be behind our team, and hopefully, we can cross the line. I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a well-balanced side, and I’m quietly confident we can upset Australia—I say ‘upset’ because they’re clearly the favourites for this ICC World Test Championship Final.”
“Australia are a very experienced, well-oiled machine of a team. It won’t be easy for South Africa. But I’m quietly confident because we’re going there with many in-form players and big-hearted guys who have something to prove on this stage. For many of these players, it’ll be their first match at Lord’s—hopefully, they’ll settle quickly. But I’m really looking forward to this contest. It’s going to be fantastic cricket—after all, it’s a final, and both teams have earned their place here,” he added.
For the Aussies, a lot of eyes would be on Travis Head — a centurion and the player of the match in the 2023 final when they beat India to clinch the second edition of the Championship at the Oval. Head hit another century in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, too, taking up the image of a ‘clutch’ player.
“He’s proven in multiple finals now—the World Test Championship Final and the 50-over World Cup Final—that he can rip the game away from the opposition in an instant,” former ODI captain Aaron Finch told the broadcaster. “As an opponent, these are the players you fear most. He can change a match faster than anyone,” he added.
Finch added that, though like South Africa, Australia’s strength also lies in their bowling, the Kangaroos’ bowling would be better prepared for the format.
“I believe the batting line-up will be extremely well-prepared. With several players not involved in the IPL, they’ve had the opportunity to focus specifically on their Test preparations. Consider Steve Smith entering the World Test Championship fresh, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green already acclimatized by playing cricket in England. Many of these players will arrive eager and ready to perform at their best,” he said.
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